An evolving view of phylogenetic biogeography

Michael J. Landis , Joel L. Cracraft, Isabel Sanmartín

Biogeography is intrinsically linked to evolution as a process and to systematics as a practice. Phylogenetic biogeography, in particular, studies the distribution of life in space over time through the lens of common ancestry. Over the past century, new biological and geological discoveries, theoretical frameworks, and methodological techniques revolutionized how we understand why species have come to live where they do. This perspective piece orients readers to major advances, changes, and conflicts from the phylogenetic biogeography literature, much of which was centered around articles published in Systematic Biology. As part of our survey, we also highlight areas that were historically active, remain biologically significant, and deserve renewed attention.